Feeding mechanism for metal strips.



' s. B. JACKSON. FEEDINGMECHANISM FOR METAL STRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2!. I914. H

' Patented 0v. 5,1918.

8 SHEE S-SHEEI 1 s. B. JACKSON. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR METAL STRIPS.

' APPLIIZATION F|LED 0CT.2|. 1914. i v 1,283,522. Patented NOY. 5,1918.

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S. B. JACKSON. FEEDING. MECHANISM FOR METAL STRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2|. I914. 1,283,522. Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

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S. B. JACKSON.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR METAL STRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED QCT. 21 I914. 1,283,522. Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

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S. B. JACKSON. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR METAL STRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2!. I914.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

S. B. JACKSON.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR METAL S-IRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21. 1914.

1 ,283,522. Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

lgyza M/ 65 6g ydflfimmmj @501 S. B. JACKSON.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR METAL STRIPS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2!. I914.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

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S. B. JACKSON.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR METAL STRIPS APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21. I914. v vk Patented Nov. 0,1918. 1 8 SHEETS-SHEET 8 4& /4/

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nnrrn s'rAns SAMUEL BEAUMONT. JACKSON, or QUIHNGY, MASSACHUSETTS.-

; FEEDING MECHAN SM FOR METAL STRIPS.

Application filed October 21, 1914, serial No. 867,878.

To (all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL BEAUMONT J ACKSON, a citizen of the United;States, and resident of Quincy, in the county of Norfolk and State ofMassachusetts; have invented new and useful Improvements 1n FeedingMechanism for Metal Strips, of which the following is a specification.-

This invention relates to blank feeding mechanism for metal workingmachines, and while it is susceptible ofuse for other purposes, isparticularly designed for feeding metal blanks, strips or plates to tackand nail making machines. The metal strips are of the required width forthe lengtli of the article to be made and are to be presentedautomatically to the cutting and shaping tools from a magazinecontaining a stack of such metal strips. The object of the invention isto provide simplified and dependable mechanism of novel and improvedconstruction for automatically presenting blank: strips, one by one, tothe cutters and for,

performing all its functions of selecting and feeding the strips to themetal working machine automatically, so that no attention is required onthe part of the operator other than to keep the magazine" supplied withblanks or strips. 1

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of theinvention, such embodiment constituting but one eX emplification of thevarious forms in which the invention maybe used,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an assembled blank feeding machme;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on line 22'of Fig, 1, looking in ofthe arrows;

F ig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the left hand end or forward end of the feedbar, showing the feed bar journal,-t-he nipper, nose guide, stub endejecting mechanism and strip l'ocators;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the'right' hand end of the magazine andstrip manipulating mech anism Fig. 6 is a vertical crosssection throughthe feed bar and magazine showing one of the strip p'ushers andactuating mechanism therefor, a strip presser foot in operativeposition, and a strip guide in a raised or inoperative pos1t1on';

Specification of Letters Batent.

V Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

in operative position, a retracted strip pusher and a strip presser footin operative position; r

'Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section of the feed bar showing a pair ofstrip keepers in closed position over the strip; Fig. 10 is an enlargedcentral vertical sect1on of the right hand end of the feed bar, showingthe feed bar starting and stopping mechanism and the spur and annulargears for actuating the nipper driving shaft;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the left hand end or forward end of thefeed bar showing the nose guide, stub end ejecting mechanism and a pairof strip keepers; Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a portion of the feedbar near theright hand-end show ing the sliding bar which actuates thestrip keepers;

Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the feed bar and stripkeeper opening and closing mechanism;

Fig. 1 1 is an end elevation of the left hand trolling worm;

Fig. 17 is a horizontal central sectio the line 1717 of Fig. 15; 1

Fig. 18 is a'transverse section on the line V 1818 of Fig.16', showingtheclu'tch mechanism; and r Fig. 19 is a horizontal section on line19-19 of Fig. 14, "enlarged.

clutch housing 4: at the left hand end as I viewed in Fig. 1, the feedbar housing sup- 100 The frame of the machine consists of the radialadjustment shoe 9 on a standard composed of parts 10, 11 and 12 restingon the floor.

The magazine for holding the strips or blanks consists of the clutchhousing at mounted on lateral adjustment swivel 7 brackets 13 and 1%supported on red 6; the uprights 15, 16, (Figs. 1 and 2) mounted onclutch housing 4 and 17, 1S and 19 (Fig. 1) mounted respectively onbrackets 13 and 14:, forming combined vertical and inclined guidechannels for receiving the strips or blanks S (Fig. 2) and holding thestrips in a stack in position to be delivered one by one from the bottomof the stack by the feed mechanism hereinafter described.

In place of the feed tube or barrel which is commonly employed as theguiding and feeding means for the blanks on machines to which thisinvention is applicable, I use the feed bar 20, which possesses theadvantage, among others, that it will not so readily accumulate dirt orlime dust, (a result of the pickling process for rei'noving the scalefrom the steel, the lime dip being used as a rustpreventat-ive), as atube or similar structure. Such accumulation might frequently render themachine inoperative.

Said feed bar 20 is rigidly attached at its right hand end within asleeve 21. (Figs. 3 and and rotates, with sleeve 21 as a bear ing, inswivel ournal 22 mounted in the feed bar housing 23 which is supportedby the frame. At its left hand end the feed bar is provided with asleeve bearing2-t (Figs. ti: and which turns in ournal 25. The journal25 is mounted to slide up and down on posts-26 carried ona bracket 27and attached to clutch housing 1 of the frame. The bar 20 may be rotateda half revolution between the several cut-ting operations, for thepurpose of obtaining the angular cuts which form the points when thetacks or nails are cut from the strips. The rotation of the feed bar 20,with the nose guide rigidly fixed thereto and resting on the lowercutting tool of the tack or nail machine, is permitted by the verticalsliding of the journal 25 on posts 26, which allows the feed bar to riseand fall a little as the nose guide turns over on the cutting tool. Thejournal 25, however, prcvents any lateral vibration of the feed bar.

The nipper slide 29 which carries the strip or blank forward to thecutting tools, is slidably mounted on the feed bar 20 (Figs. 2 and 5)and travels between its forward posi tion as shown in Fig. 1 and a rearposition somewhat to the right of that shown in Fig. 5 near the righthand end of the machine. The nipper jaw 20 is pivoted to the forward endof the slide 29 which forms the lower jaw of the nippers and is mountedwithin a dovetailed recess 20 in feed bar 20. A spring 30 underneath thenipper jaw 29" (Fig. 5) tends to close the nipper jaw; and

pinion 3 1 meshes with the rack 29.

when all of the strip has been cut excepting the stub end 31 (Fig. 1)the nipper o )ening arm 32 mounted on shaft 33 (Figs. 1 and 2) forciblyopens the nipper so that the stub end 31 is not'withdrawn by the nipper.Cain 153 (Figs. 1 and operates the arm 32 act nously so that the pinion3st at the extreme left, meshing with the rack 29 (Fig. 4:) withdrawsthe nipper to the right and until The pinions 3-12 34', 341, 34, 3 1 3%,cooperate with the rack 29 to move the nipper from its'forward positionas shown in Figs. 1 and i, to the position somewhat to the right of thatshown in Fig. 5 near the right hand or rearward end of the machine; andare actuated by miter gears 35 driven by shaft 36 (Fig. 5) mounted onand beneath the feed bar 20. Shaft 36 is provided at its right handextremity with a pinion 37 which is driven by an annular gear 38 (Figs.3 and 10) rotatably mounted on sleeve 21 (Fig. 10); annular. gear 38having an external spur gear 3S made integral therewith is driven byspur gear 39 on nipper actuating clutch shaft 40 rotatably mounted inclutch housing at, brackets 13 1% and feed bar housing 23.

Keyed to shaft 40 by keys 11 (Fig. 16) are cam plates 42 and 43 fittingloosely within annular recesses 14 and 45 in clutch gears 44: and 45.Each of said cam plates is made with two oppositely disposed ca1nlikerecesses in which are mounted clutch rolls 46 and 47 (Fig. 18). Springs:8 and s9 tend to force said rolls up the cam surfaces into engagementwith the periphery of the annular recess see in gear hthereby couplingthe gear 4% and the cam plate &2 together. Said rollers are disengagedfrom clutching position by clutch levers 50 and 51, pivoted on cam plate4:2, and carrying studs 52 and 53 which engage the rollers 16 and 17 onthe sides opposite to the springs. Each clutch lever 50 and 51 hasat itsinner end a clutch pin 5-1 and 55, which drops into an annular groove 57of the clutch shipper 57, when the latter is shifted endwise to bringthe groove opposite said clutch pins. In this position the clutch willbe engaged. hen the shipper is shifted so as to force the pins 54 and 55out of said groove, the levers 50 and 51 will be swung on their pivotsand move the rolls 46 and s7 down the cam surfaces and uncouple the gear14: from its cam plate. It will be understood that there are twoidentical clutching devices and that they are respectively coupled togear -t-1 or to gear 15 according to the position of groove 57 of theshipper so that the rotation of the shaft may be reversed; gears 4 1 andbeing rotated in opposite directions as shown by arrows in Fig. 16 bymeans hereinafter described. When theannular groove 437 is in neutralposition between the two sets of pins 54: and 55, both sets of rolls arereleased and the shaft to is uncoupled from both gears.

)Vhen the nipper withdraws toward the right or rear end of the machineleaving the stub end 31 in the nose guide 28 and stub end removed fromthe nose guide 28 and is dropped from between the ejectors 58 when theinwardly projecting arms 58" engage with the stop 61, and cause theejectors 58 to spread apart. Said stub end ejectors 58 are yieldinglyurged inwardly by spring 62 (Fig. 4) and thereby exert a grippingtension on the edges of strips of various widths for the purpose ofremoving the stubend "from the cutting tools through the nose guide 28.

The feed bar 20 is provided with a series of strip keepers for holdingthe strip or blank in position on the feed bar and to counteract anytendency in the strip to warp or curl. Said strip keepers as hereinshown consist of arms 63 (Figs. 9, 11 and 13) rigidly secured to studs64: which turn in the feed bar 20. The strip keepers are opened andclosed by strip keeper actuating mechanism comprising a strip keepershifting bar 60, mounted so as to slide on the underside of feed lar 20by means of screws 65 passing through slots in the bar 60, which limitthe cndwise movement of the bar 60. Arms or links 66 (Fig. 13)arerigidlysecured to the several studs 64- and are pivotally connectedto bar by a slotand pin connection where by the endwisemovcmentofbar 60will cause the keepers 63 to swing inwardly or outwardly over thechannel provided in the feed bar 20 for the strip or blank. WVhen acrossthe feed bar as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 13. As the nipper '29moved for- 'ward to the loft, spring 67 (Fig. 13) rigidly fixed on oneend to screw and on the other end to shifting bar 60, serves to move theshifting bar 60 toward the left in the direc tion to close the stripkeepers as illustrated in Fig. 13. To obviate the necessity for a fineadjustment of the clutch which controls the forward and reverse movementof the nipper, bar 60 is shown intwo parts yieldingly joined togetherlongitudinally by a spring 68 (Fig. 12) whose right and left ends aremounted on the two portions respectively of the bar 60.

Above the feed bar 20 and near each end of the strip magazine, is apresser foot 69 (Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 8) extending laterally from a presserfoot slide 70 which works in a vertical guideway 71. The slide 70 ismoved up and down by a bell crank lever 72 pivoted on stud 73 which issecured to a bracket extending from guideway 71. The lower arm of bellcrank lever 7 2 is connected by link 74 to the upper end of lever 75.Lever 75 is pivotally mounted on bracket 7 6 by screw 7 7 and normallyurges link 74 toward the right by a tension spring 78 (Fig. 5). Cam 79,mounted on cam shaft 80, engages roll 81 on lever 7 5 and controls theupward and downward movement of the presser foot.

The strips or blanks are pushed out from the bottom of the stack in themagazine by strip pnshers 82 (Figs. 6 and 5) of which there are threeslidably mounted in the clutch housing 1 and magazine brackets 13 and 14(Fig. 1). The operative end "of each pusher 82 is formed to engage thelowermost strip in the magazine (Figs. 2 and 6 and force it out underpresser feet 69, 69, to a position over the feed bar 20 (Fig. 6); eachpusher 82 is provided with a downwardly yielding leaf spring 82 mountedon the pusher and permits of the easy withdrawal of the pushers as theypass under the stack, said spring projecting above the surface of thepusher a sufficient amount to engage the bottom strip. The three strippushers 82 are actuated by the cam 83' rigidly mounted on cam shaft(Fig. 6) through the following mechanism :Arms Set rigidly mounted onrock shaft'85, engage pins 86 inthe ushers 82 and the roll 87 mounted onthe downwardly extending arm on the middle arm 8%, by means of thetension spring 88, is held in Contact with the cam surface of cam 83thereby imparting a reciprocating motion to the pushers as the cam shaft80 rotates.

Strip guides 89, 89, adjustable for difierent widths of strips arecarried on laterally eX- tending arms or slides 90. (Figs. 2, 6 and 8)which work in vertical slideways 91. Each slide 90 is actuated by a bellcrank lever 92 fulcrumed on stud 73. The lower arm of lever 92 isconnected by link 93 to the upper end of lever 94:. which is pivotallymounted on bracket 76 by screw ,77 and normally urges link 93 to theright by a'tension spring similar to 7 3 (not shown) but located infront of spring 78 (Fig. Cam 79 mounted on cam shaft 80 engages roll 90on lever 91 and controls the upward and dow 1- ward movement of thestrip guides. )Vhen the guides are down on the feed bar, cla1np ingplungers 97, three in number, (Figs. 2 and are brought down on the strip98 to the position shown in Fig. The mechanism for effecting thisconsists of a plunger guide rail 99, which is bolted to slides 90 andprovided with holes through which plungers 97 extend. Plungors 07 areheld. in raised position on rail 90 by coil springs 100. Plunger levers101, one for each plunger, are pivoted to guide rail 39; one arm of eachlever 101 acts on the plunger 97, and the otbt-r arm is pivoted to link102; in the right hand end of link 102 is mounted pin 103. A leverfulcrumed on screw 77 (Fig. engages at its upper end pin 103 and bymeans of cam 79 actuating roll 105 on lever l0-loperates the clampingplamgers. Said strip is held thus clamped until the strip keepers 63close over the strip 98 as shown in Fig. 9, and the strip is engaged bythe nipper. After the strip keepers close over the strip and the stripis engaged by the nippcr the three cam paths on cam T' operate to raisethe strip presser feet. strip guides and clamping plungers to theirrespective elevated positions as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The feed bar rotating mechanism for turning the strip over between eachaction of the cutting tools, is quite different from the oscillatingmethod commonly used. in that the feed bar is rotated half a revolutionand stops while the tack or nail blank is severed from the strip. andturns the succeeding half revolution in the same direction as thepreceding one; thus giving the feed bar intermittent rotation in onedirection; the mechanism comprises lever 106 (Fig. 1) pivoted on abracket 107 rigidly mounted on a leg of the tack or nail machine,reciproeating rods 10S and 109. extending from lever 106 lengthwise ofthe machine, ratchet arms 110 and 111, pawls 112 and 113 (Figs. 1 andratchet wheel 11. 1 rigidly mounted on stud 115, journaled in feed barhousing 23, bevel gear 116 rigidly mounted on stud 115, bevel pinion 117(Figs. 1, 3' and 10) rotatably mounted on sleeve 21 which carries thefeed bar; sleeve 21 being rotatably mounted in feed bar housing 23. Thelever 106 is reciprocated by suitable mechanism (not shown) on the tackmachine and imparts suflicient motion to arms 110 and 111 to permit theengagement of pawls 11.2 and 113 with the ratchet teeth on the ratchetwheel 111. The pause in the rotation of the feed bar while the blanksare severed from the strips, is effected by slightly increasing thestroke of 1.10 and 111. so

that pawls 112 and 113 will pass slightly beyond the point necessary toengage a tooth on the ratchet.

In order to stop the rotation of the feed bar 20 while the stub end ofthe strip is being removed and a fresh strip is seized by the nippersand presented to the cutting tools, and again to start the rotation offeed bar 20, the following stopping and starting mechanism is provided:118 (Figs. 3 and 10) is a stopping and starting cam rigidly mounted oncam shaft 80. Cam shaft 80 is actuated by mechanism hereinafterdescribed and rotates only while the stub end of the used up strip isbeing removed and a fresh strip is being brought into position to beoperated upon. )Vhile this is taking place, therefore, feed bar 20 andsleeve 21 should be disconnected from gear 117 which drives the feedbar, and is loose on sleeve 21. A rock shaft 122 extending transverselythrough sleeve 21 and feed bar 20 has at one end a clutch finger 123which normally engages a pin 124 on gear 117, thereby causing the feedbar to turn with the gear. At the other end of rock shaft 122 is an arm122 having a roller 121 at its outer end. The cam lever 120, carryingcam roll 119, is fulcrumed on a bracket extending from the feed barhousing 23. Said lever 120 has at its upper end a cam surface 120 whichis out of the path of roller 121 on arm 122 when the feed bar isrotating and the cam shaft 80 is inactive. When the cam shaft 80 isrotated, cam 118 acting through cam roller 119 swings lever 120 so as tomove its cam surface 120 into the path of roller 121 on arm 122, therebyswinging arm 122 and disengaging clutch finger 123 from pin 124-. Gear117 and feed bar 20 are thus disconnected and the gear is free to rotatewhile the feed bar remains at rest in the proper position to receive afresh strip. The cam 118 is so shaped as to hold the clutch finger 123out of engagement with pin 124 so long as said operations of removingthe old strip stub and seizing a fresh strip continue, and then toreengage said clutch finger and pin.

The clutch controlling mechanism (Figs. 1a and 15) comprises nipperclutch cam 125, rigidly mounted on cam shaft 80 and provided withforward reversing cam path 125% backward reversing cam path 125, andneutral cam path 125, shifting lever 126 fulcrumed at 126 on the clutchhousing, spool fork 127 engaging clutch shipper 57 to shift the clutchas the cam projections on cam 125 engage the roll 128 on the lever 126.

During the cutting of the strips, the strips are fed forward toward thecutting tools by means of the feed bar rotating mechanism. As the feedbar 20, (Fig. 3) is rotated in a clockwise direction, with the nipperclutch Fig. 16 in neutral position, pinion 37 mounted on shaft 36 of thefeed bar rotates on its axis in an anti clockwise direction and therebyrotates the pinions 34 (Figs. 1 and 5) which mesh with and drive therack 29" and nipper 29, in a direction to feed the strip to the cuttingtools; when the strip has been fed up to the gage 129 (Fig. 1) pinion 37no longer rotates on its axis but continues its clockwise movement withthe feed bar, carrying with it the annular gear 38, spur gear 39, andshaft 40 drive clutch (Fig. 16) being disengaged until the halfrevolution of the feed bar is completed. At the end of the halfrevolution the tack or nail blank is severed from the strip, and afterthe cutting tool is withdrawn, the strip is moved forward again to thegage 129 by the rotation which is resumed of gear 37, shaft 36 and therack and pinions which drive the nipper endwise.

The clutch mechanism for actuating the cam shaft 80, (Figs. 14 and 15)comprises worm 130, rigidly mounted on the left hand end of shaft 40,plunger 131 (Figs. 14 and 19) plunger spring 132, plunger trigger 133,trigger spring 134, all mounted on shifting lever 135 which is mountedon the frame, trigger stop screw 136, spool fork 137 shifting spool 138,clutch shipper 139 17), pin 140 loosely mounted in the housing 4 of theframe, clutch shifting cam 141 on cam shaft 80. As the clutch proper 142for cam shaft 80 is identical, except that it requires no reversemovement, with the nipper clutch shown and described under Fig. 16, itnot described in detail here.

)Vhen the teat 131 of plunger 131 engages the worm thread on worm 130,the upper arm of shifting lever 135 moves toward the left as shaftrotates in a counter-clockwise direction; the lower arm of shiftinglever 135 forces in shifting spool 138 and shipper 139 which isconnected to it, until the cam clutch 142 and gear 142 are lockedtogether thereby rotating the cam shaft 80. Plunger 131 is disengagedfrom worm 130 by the forcing out of the plunger as the bottom of theplunger bears against the gradual rise 130 in the bottom of the wormthread. The bottom of the groove or thread at the left hand end of theworm acts as a cam during a half revolution of the worm, thereby forcingthe plunger out. The plunger is then held out of engagement with theworm by the trigger 133, pressed into the annular groove 131 in theplunger by the leaf spring 134. When the cam shaft 80 has made onerevolution it is stopped by the movement of shipper 139 toward the left.Cain 141 acting on pin 140 unlocks gear 142 and cam shaft 80 therebystops. The left hand movement of the shipper 139 and shifting spool 138carries the upper arm of shifting lever 135 and plunger 131 toward theright until trigger 133 strikes against of the machine.

trigger stop screw 136 and plunger 131 is pulley 146 (Fig. 2) which isrotated by abelt from a pulley on the. tack machine (not shown). Sleeve143 has integral therewith, bevel gear 145,-(Whicl1' meshes with and iscontinuously driven by bevel pinion 144), pinion 147 which meshes withclutch gear 142 to drive the cam shaft 80, spur gear 148 which meshesdirectly with clutch gear 44 to drive the nipper in one direction, spurgear 149 which meshes with an intermediate gear 150, which in turnmeshes with clutch gear to drive the nipper in the opposite direction,according as the clutch mechanism, heretofore described, locks cam plate42 or 43 with gears 44 or 45. p

The operation of the machine is as follows: Assuming that the. nipper 29is traveling to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, and that the strip hasbeen all cut excepting the stub end (31 in Fig. 4) held by the nipperjaws, as the nipper approaches the nose guide 28, locatedclose to thecutters, cam shaft 80 stopped during the cutting of the strip, is madeto rotate by the throwing in of the cam shaft clutch actuated by theworm 130 and plunger 131 (Fig. 15), and the reversing projection 125 oncam 125 shifts the nipper clutch into backward reversing position.Thereupomthe nipper 29 will start its travel toward the right and awayfrom the cutting tools. Simultaneously with the shifting of the nipperclutch into backward reversing position, the nipper opening arm 32 onshaft 33 engages the upper jaw 29 of the nipper and forces the righthand end thereof down and opens the nipper so that as the nipper movesto the right the stub end remains in the nose guide 28 and in stub endejectors 58 until the nipper reaches a position at the right hand end Asthe nipper in its travel toward the right engages pin 59 on bar 60 (Fig.12), shifting bar 60 moving with the nipper, retracts the stub end heldby the strip locators 151 (Fig. 4) mounted on the tack or nail machine(not shown) and strip ejectors 58, until the inwardly projecting arms 58mounted on bar 60 (Fig. 4) strike the stop screw 61, thereby opening theejectors 58 and discharging the stub end. The rotation of the feed barwill also be stopped as cam 118 on cam shaft 80 actuates the clutchfinger 123 by swinging the cam surface 120 of lever 120 toward the rightand into the path of roll 121 on arm 122,

mounted on and rotating with the feed bar. This disconnects the drivinggears 116 and 11ifrom operative connection with the feed bar 20 andthereby stops the feed bar in correct position to receive a fresh strip.

As the nipper travels to the right and en gages pin 59 on bar 60, thestrip keepers 63 are opened. After the nipper passes the right handpresser foot, cam pat-h 79 on cam 79 (Fig. 5) actuates arm and the strippresser feet 09, 69, drop into operative position. A fresh strip is nextpushed from beneath the stack of strips in the magazine by theengagement of the cam 83, on cam shaft 80, with the strip pusher arm 8%(Fig. 0) on rock shaft 85. This causes the shaft to rock and to actuatethe three strip pushers 82, which are located near the two ends and themiddle of the strip, and forces the strip out from the bottom of thestack over the feed bar 20 and beneath the presser feet 09, 69. Campat-h '79 on cam 7 9 neXt engages roll 96 and moves the upper arm oflever 9%. toward the right, thereby dropping strip guides 89 intooperative position at the sides of the strip (Fig. 8). Cam

next actuates the strip pushers to withdraw them and the strip isallowed to drop from the strip pushers to the feed bar, where it isclamped by the clamping plungers 9T, actuated by levers 101, link 102,pin 103, and clamp actuator lever 10-1, which is operated through roller105 by cam path 79 on cam 79, immediately after the withdrawal of thestrip pushers. While the strip is thus firmly clamped to the feed barand the cam projection 125 on cam 125, shifts the nipper clutch intoforward reverse position by connecting cam plate l3 and gear 15, so thatthe nipper moves in a direction toward the cutting tools, shifting bars60 moves to the left and the strip keepers 83 close over the strip. Arm152 and lever 15& (Fig. 5) are rigidly keyed to the rock shaft As theright hand end of the upper j aw of nipper 29 passes under the nipperopening arm 152, cam 153 on cam. shaft 80, actuating arm 15-): (Figs. 1and swings arm 152 in a downward direction into the path of nipper jaw29", thereby opening the nipper to receive a. fresh strip and as thenipper moves toward the cutting tools engaging the fresh strip, andpasses from under the arm 152, spring 80 (F ig' 5) closes the nipper andthe strip is firmly held by the nipper. Cam 79 next actuates arn'is 75,94 and 104; and raises the strip presser feet 69 andv strip guides 89together with clamping plungers 97 clear of the feed bar. The nipper isnow free to pass under the strip presser feet, strip guides and clampingplungers.

Cain 118 next actuates the lever which permits clutch finger toreciigage the pin 12-l and thereby connects the feed bar rot-atingmechanism and the feed bar resumes its intermittent rotation. At thisjuncture, cam projection 125" on cam 125, engages lever 126 and shiftsthe nipper clutch from its forward operating position, into neutralposition, so that the clutch plates s2, &3 (Fig. are disconnected fromboth clutch gears. Thereupon, the nipper and strip will be fed towardthe cutting tools by the action of the feed bar rotating mechanism andannular gear rotatably mounted on the feed bar. As the nipper clutch isshifting into neutral position, cam ill acting on pin 1 1-0 (Figs. 17and 15) forces shifting spool 138 to the left and thereby disconnectsclutch gear 142 from shaft 80 and said shaft 80 stops. The upper arm. ofshifting lever 135 with plunger 131 mounted therein, by the operation ofcam 1 11 is brought into a position where trigger striking againsttrigger stop screw 136 releases the plunger and the cycle of operationsis complete.

From the foregoing description of the construction and mode of operationof the ma chine, it will be seen that the strip keepers will hold theblank or strip substantially flat on the feed bar and affordsubstantially continuous support for the strip on both its upper andlower sides, thus preventing the strip from bending, buckling or warpingduring the intermittent rotation of the feed bar and while being fedforward by the nipper along the feed bar, which also acts as nipperguiding means; that the nose guide 28 and strip locators 151 constituteguiding means for the strip at its forward end, adapted respectively toprevent vertical and edgewise displacement of the strip during theoperation of the feed bar; that the stub end ejectors 58 will hold thestub end of the strip in the guide until after the nipper has releasedthe strip and withdrawn, and will then retract the strip from the stripguiding means and open to drop out the stub end that the magazine forholding the stack of strips S, is substantially vertical at its lowerpart immediately above its delivery end and inclined at its upper part,whereby the inclined part of the magazine will take a great part of theweight off from the lower strips in the stack while the vertical part atthe lower end of the magazine will prevent any tendency of the lowermoststrips to tilt out of the proper flat, horizontal posi tion; that theDresser feet. are held in their depressed and operative position to holdthe strip in position on the pushers while the strip is carried forwardby the pushers and until the pushers reach the end of their forwardmovement; that the stradlle guides will come down at either side of thestrip after the latter has been carried forward by the pushers, and willprevent lateral dis placement of the strip while the pushers are beingwithdrawn, act as strippers to hold the strip over the feed bar whilethe pushers are which includes a yielding'element'to permit the forwardmotion of the nipper tobe arrested without discontinuing the applicationof the power, as the strip is cut off bythe cutting tools of the tack ornail machine and again moves forward until it meets the usual stop orgage of the nail cutting machine; thatthe nipper guiding means (feedbar) derives itsmotion of rotation, and the nipper itsforward motionalong the nipper guiding means, from the same common source of power;that said nipper guiding means, lnternuttently rotated ln'a-singled1rect1on,1s automatically connected and d1sconnected from its rotatingmechanism at predetermined times, but only when said guidingmeans is innormal strip-receiving position; and that the stopping and starting ofthe nipper guiding means, the c0ntrolling of the movements of thenipper, and the operation of the mechanisms for delii eringthe strip tothe nipper, are all effected from a single cam shaft, the rotation ofwhich is'stopped when the strip has been delivered to and seized by thenipper, and is restarted when the nipper has reached the end of itsforward travel; that is, the cam shaft operates only while the nipper isbeing retracted and a new strip is being brought into place on the feedbar.

I claim 1. In a machine of the character described, a rotary feedbar'adapted to receive'and hold the blank or strip and to affordsubstantially continuous support therefor, strip keepers on said feedbar adapted at all times a V to permit free movement of the striplengthwise of the feed bar and to hold said strip substantially fiat onthe feed bar in all positions of the same, and mechanism to open andclose said strip-keepers.

2. Ina machine of the character described, a feed bar adapted toreceive'and hold the blank or strip and to afford substantiallycontinuous support therefor, strip-keepers on said feed bar to hold saidstrip substantially flat on the feed bar, and mechanism to open andclose said strip-keepers, said feed bar being provided with alongitudinal guideway, nippers mounted to slide in said guideway,'iandmechanism to actuate said nippers. A

3. In a machine of the character described,

a feed bar adaptedto receive and hold-the blank or strip and to alfordsubstantially continuous support therefor, strip keepers on said feedbar to hold said strip substantially flat on the feedbar, and mechanismto open and clo'sesaid strip-keepers, said feed bar being provided witha longitudinal guideway, nippers comprising a pair of jaws, one of whichis slidably mounted on and supportedby said guidewayand the other ofwhich is pivoted to the sliding jaw, and mechanism to actuate saidnippers. 4-. In a machine of the character described, a feed bar adaptedto receive and hold the blank or strip and to afiord substantiallycontinuous support therefor, a series of strip-keepers each consistingof an arm pivoted to the feed bar and adapted to swing, over the strip,and mechanism toopcrate said armsin unison.

" 5. In a machine of the character 'de-,

6. In a machine of the character described, a feed bar a'dapted'toreceive and hold; the blank or strip and to afford substantiallycontinuous support therefor,'a series of strip-keeperseach consisting ofan arm pivoted to the feed bar and adapted to swing over the strip,strip-guiding means supported'by the forward end of said feed bar, ashifting bar mounted to move endwise on said feed bar, 'stub'endremovers carried by said shifting bar, said shifting bar being adaptedboth to operate said strip-keepers and to retract said stub end removersfrom the strip-guiding means.

7. In a machine of the character described, a magazine adapted to hold astack of blanks or strips, a feed bar, a nipper mounted to movelengthwise of said feed bar, a pusher adapted topush the lowermost stripfrom the bottom of the stack out of the magazine and over the feed bar,and movable clamps cooperating with the feed bar to clamp thestrip inposition flat on the feed bar until it is seized by the nipper.

S. In a' machine ,of the character described, a magazine adapted toholda stack of'blanks or strips, a feed bar, a reciprocating pusher adaptedto carry the lowermost stripfrom the bottom of the stack out of themagazine and over the feed bar, laterally rigid and vertically movablemeans to hold the strip in position on the pusherv until the pusherreaches the end-of its forward movement, a nipper mounted to move end,-wise on said feed bar, and movable clamps cooperating with the feed barto clamp the strip in position Hat on the feed bar until it is seized bythe nipper.

9. In a machine of the character described, a magazine to hold a stackof blanks or strips, a fed bar, a nipper mounted to move lengthwise ofsaid feed bar, a pusher adapted to push the lowermost strip from thebottom of the stack out of the magazine and over the feed bar, alaterally rigid and vertically movable presser foot adapted when in ope*ative position to hold a strip in position on the pusher until thepusher reaches the end of the forward movement, and means to move saidpresser foot downward into operative position and upward intoinoperative position.

10. In a machine of the character described, a magazine to hold a stackof blanks or strips, a feed bar, a nipper mounted to move lengthwise ofsaid feed bar, a pusher adapted to push the lowermost strip from thebottom of the stack out of the magazine and over the feed bar, astraddle guide to prevent lateral displacement of the strip while thepusher is being withdrawn and to guide the strip to position as it fallsto the feed bar, a movable presser foot, and means to hold said presserfoot in operative position while the pusher is moving forward and untilthe straddle guide descends.

11. In a machine of the character described, a magazine to hold a stackof blanks or strips, a feed bar, a nipper mounted to move lengthwise ofsaid feed bar, a pusher adapted to push the lowermost strip from thebottom of the stack out of the magazine and over the feed bar, astraddle guide to prevent lateral displacement of the strip while thepusher is being withdrawn and to guide the strip to position as it fallsto the feed bar, and a presser foot adapted to hold the strip'inposition upon the pusher until the straddle guide descends.

12-. In a machine of the character described, a magazine adapted to holda stack of blanks or strips, a feed bar, a reciprocating pusher adaptedto carry the lowermost strip from the bottom of the stack out of themagazine and over the feed bar, means to hold the strip in position onthe pusher until the pusher reaches the end of its forward movement,means to prevent lateral diplacement. of the strip while the pusher isbeing withdrawn and to guide the strip to position as it falls to thefeed bar, means to clamp the strip in position on the feed bar after thepusher has withdrawn and a nipper on the feed bar to seize the stripafter the pusher has withdrawn and while the strip is clamped to thefeed bar.

13. In a machine of the character described. a magazine adapted to holdastack oi blanks or strips, a feed bar, a reciprocating pusher adaptedto carry the lowermost strip from the bottom of the stack out of themagazine and over the feed bar, a movable presser foot adapted in itsdepressed and operative position to keep the strip in position 011 thepusher until the pusher reaches the end of its forward movement, andstraddle guides to prevent lateral displacement of the strip while thepusher is being withdrawn. and to guide the strip to position as itfalls to the feed bar, clamping means to hold the strip in position onthe feed bar after the pusher has withdrawn, a nipper on the feed bar toseize the strip while thus held, and means to withdraw the presser foot,guides and clamping means.

lel. In a machine of the character described, nipper guiding means, anipper mounted to travel lengthwise of said guiding means, and mechanismadapted to move said nipper forward including a driving element, adriven element, and a yielding element adapted to permit the forwardmotion of the nipper to be arrested without discontinuing the movementof the driving element. 1

15. In a machine of the character described, nipper guiding means, anipper mounted to travel lengthwise of said guiding means, mechanism toimpart an intermittent rotary movement to said guiding means, mechanismto drive said nipper forward 011 said guiding means, and a source ofpower common to both of said mechanisms, from which source said guidingmeans derives its motion of rotation and said nipper its forward motion.

16. In a machine of the character described, nipper guiding means, anipper mounted to travel lengthwise of said guiding means, mechanism toimpart an intermittent rotary movement to said guiding means, mechanismto drive said nipper for ward on said guiding means, and a source ofpower common to both of said mechanisms, from which source said guidingmeans derives its motion of rotation and said nipper its forward motion,said nipper driving mechanism including a yielding element adapted topermit the forward motion of the nipper to be arrested withoutdiscontinuing the application of the power.

17. In a machine of the character described, rotary nipper guidingmeans, intermittently operated mechanism to rotate said guiding means ina single direction, a nipper mounted to travel lengthwise of saidguiding means, mechanism to deliver a blank or strip into position to beseized by the nipper, and mechanism actuated automatically to connectthe nipper guiding means and the rotating means when a blank or striphas been seized by the nipper and to disconnect the same when the nipperreaches the forward end of its travel.

18. In a machine of the character described, rotary nipper guidingmeans, intermittently operated mechanism to rotate said guiding means ina single direction, a coupling member carried by said guiding means forconnecting and disconnecting said guiding means and intermittentlyoperated rotating means, and mechanism operated automatically atpredetermined times to move said coupling member into operative orinoperative position.

19. In a machine of the character described, nipper guiding means, anipper movable lengthwise of said guiding means, mechanism to actuatesaid nipper forward and backward, and mechanism to open the nipper jawsand release the stub end of the strip while the nipper is in itsforwardmost position.

20. In a machine of the character described, nipper guiding means, anipper movable lengthwise of said guiding means, a strip guide supportedby the forward end of said nipper guiding means, mechanism to actuatesaid nipper forward and backward, mechanism to open the nipper jaws andrelease the stub end of the strip while the nipper is in its forwardmostposition, stub end removers at the forward end of said guiding means toengage and hold said stub end while the nipper jaws are retractedtherefrom, and mechanism to withdraw said removers and the stub end heldthereby from said strip guide.

21. In a -machine of the character described, nipper guiding means, anipper movable lengthwise of said guiding means, a strip guide supportedby the forward end of said nipper guiding means, mechanism to actuatesaid nipper forward and backward, mechanism to open the nipper jaws andrelease the stub end of the strip while the nipper is in its forwardmostposition, stub end removers at the forward end of said guiding means toengage and hold said stub end while the nipper jaws are retractedtherefrom, mechanism to withdraw said removers and the stub end heldthereby from said strip guide, and means to open said stub end removerswhen so withdrawn to drop out said stub end.

22. In a machine of the character described, nipper guiding means,mechanism to impart to said guiding means an intermittent motion ofrotation, a nipper movable forward and backward on said guiding means,mechanism to deliver a strip to said nipper, means actuated by therotation of the guiding means to stop the rotation of the guiding meansin correct position to receive the new strip, and mechanism to start therotation of the guiding means when the strip has been delivered to andseized by the nlpper.

2-3. In a machine of the character described, nipper guiding means,mechanism to impart an intermittent motion of rotation to said guidingmeans, a nipper mounted to travel lengthwise of said guiding means, and,driving mechanism operable by the rotation of said guiding means todrive said nipper forward on the guiding means.

24. In a machine of the character described, nipper guiding means,mechanism to impart an intermittent motion of rotation to said guidingmeans, a nipper mounted to travel lengthwise of said guiding means, anddriving mechanism operable by the rotation of said guiding means todrive said nipper forward on the'guiding'means, said driving mechanismincluding a yielding element adapted to permit the forward motion of thenipper to be arrested without discontinuing the rotation of the guidingmeans.

25. In. a machine of the character described, nipper guiding means,mechanism to impart to said guiding means an inter- V mittent motion ofrotation, a nipper movable forward and backward on the guiding means,mechanism actuated by said intermittent rotation of the guiding means tocontrol the movement of the nipper, and mechanism controlled by theintermittent rotation of the guiding means adapted to deliver a strip tosaid nipper.

26. In a machine of the character described, nipper guiding means,mechanism to impart to said guiding means an intermittent motion ofrotation, a nipper movable forward and backward on said guiding means,mechanism actuated by the intermittently rotated guiding means to openthe nipper jaw when the nipper reaches the end of its forward movement,and again when the nipper engages a fresh strip.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 19th day of October 1914.

I SAMUEL BEAUMONT JACKSON.

Witnesses:

ROBERT PRESLEMAN, JOSEPHINE H. RYAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

